No Violence at ‘Draw Muhammad’ Contest

Police separated anti-Islam protesters from demonstrators defending religious rights outside an Islamic community center Friday in Arizona.

 

The demonstration in Phoenix was billed as a Prophet Muhammad cartoon-drawing contest and ended without any arrests or violence.

 

Phoenix police estimated about 500 protesters showed up, roughly 250 on each side, according to The Associated Press.

 

Organizers – bikers whom police feared would be armed – said the rally was mounted in response to an incident earlier this month in which two gunmen opened fire on a similar contest in Texas where cartoonists were drawing pictures of Islam’s Prophet.

 

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